ARCHIVE

MORE

With six wrestlers making the finals, two claiming first place, and four taking second, Marion won the tournament as a team Saturday at Chase County after defeating bigger schools like El Dorado, Mulvane, and Wamego.

“The exciting thing is to think that we aren’t as good as we are going to be in two weeks at regionals and state,” coach Chad Adkins said. “We’re not coaching effort. There’s no begging, no discipline; the guys are listening and doing what they need to do.”

Each with a tournament record of 4-0, Adam Janzen and Kyle Palic took first in their weight classes.

“Adam was a man amongst boys this weekend,” Adkins said. “He hit everything with aggression and pinned his opponent in the finals in 20 seconds. Kyle was methodical. He didn’t force anything and controlled when he needed to. The guys are really fun to watch when they do what they’re supposed to.”

Several wrestlers lost in the finals after having dominated most of their championship match, Adkins said.

Although Luke Steele took second in his championship match, Adkins said, he wrestled with exceptional intensity.

“Luke Steele lost by one point after getting called on a stalling violation and Zac Lewman lost to a kid that was ranked fourth in state,” he said. “They both wrestled well. I just hate seeing matches slip away.”

Adkins said Steele has made more progress in one season than any wrestler he has ever coached.

“Luke is really dedicated,” he said. “He’s been studying wrestling videos outside of practice on the Internet.”

Wrestlers will focus on live drilling and situations during practice this week in preparation for the regional tournament Friday at Douglass.

“We are going to just keep hammering,” Adkins said. “I will be disappointed if we take less than five guys to state but I think taking eight is attainable.”